History Characters / FriendshipIsMagicTwilightSparkle

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Twilight is one of the sweetest and kindest characters on the show, but ''man oh man'' do you not want to make her mad.

* TheComplainerIsAlwaysWrong: Frequently averted by the series. The main complainer of the heroes, Twilight Sparkle, is actually right about half the time.
** It also derails the Big Bad's plot in the first season when she points out the factual errors in a prophecy about how she'd be sealed up again.
** It derails the second season's Big Bad's plot as well. Twilight Sparkle was the only one to realize that something was wrong with Princess Cadence's newfound Jerkass behavior, but when she declared her "evil", she lost her friends' and family's trust. Actually, it turns out Twilight Sparkle was right to complain, but for the wrong reason: Princess Cadence didn't suddenly turn evil; she was replaced by an evil Changeling Queen. Applejack apologizes for not trusting her word, though Twilight admits she didn't really go the right way about it either.
** However, it's played straight occasionally, too. [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E1MareInTheMoon In the very first episode]], Twilight Sparkle is complaining that being ordered by Princess Celestia to make friends in Ponyville is a complete waste of time, completely unrelated to the much more imminent threat of Nightmare Moon's return. She's right about Nightmare Moon's return being an extremely urgent situation. Making friends being an unrelated waste of time, however? [[ThePowerOfFriendship Not]] ''[[BatmanGambit quite]]''.
** Likewise, Twilight spends all of "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E15FeelingPinkieKeen Feeling Pinkie Keen]]" complaining that Pinkie's "Pinkie Sense" is illogical and that she intends to prove it's all a big coincidence. By the end of the episode, Twilight is forced to admit that even though she still doesn't understand "Pinkie Sense", it's very much real.
** In the episode "What About Discord?" Twilight becomes jealous when all her friends had fun with Discord over the weekend she spent indoors re-shelving her library and all the inside jokes she doesn't understand. She eventually thinks Discord put her friends under a spell and when she lets this thought out her friends are offended that she would think that of Discord and of them until she breaks down that she is jealous. [[spoiler:Somewhat subverted as it turns out Discord didn't invite Twilight on-purpose to, as he claims, teach her a lesson it is okay to feel jealous as long as you let it out. Though no-one else is happy he did this to her on purpose and that he took joy of rubbing his fun in her face.]]
** Zig-Zagged in the episode "No Second Prances", where Twilight is suspicious of [[HeelFaceTurn Starlight Glimmer's]] new friend and former bad-pony [[MilesGloriosus Trixie]] and feels that Trixie might be manipulating Starlight for her own ends and she shouldn't make friends with her. Starlight eventually gets fed up with this and [[WhatTheHellHero calls Twilight out on being suspicious of Trixie despite having given her a second chance]] and wonders what that means about herself. [[spoiler:As it turns out unlike the Discord example above, Trixie originally ''did'' only befriend Starlight [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter as a means of getting back at Twilight]], but she [[BecomingTheMask eventually grew to enjoy the bond they developed]] and was [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone crushed when she realized she almost destroyed one of the few genuine friendships she ever made]]. Twilight in turn realizes that she went overboard with her suspicions and apologizes]].

** The snarky, studious and unkempt Twilight (for example, Twilight claims the pink streak is not a fashion choice but a natural part of her hair, and she admitted in one episode to not caring how it looked) is also the tomboy compared to the vain and narcissistic, somewhat flamboyant Trixie's girl girl, especially considering how many times Trixie's been seen in the spa. The two are minor rivals of sorts in the show, and Trixie's overbearing boasting and image hyping often drives Twilight crazy.

* NoSenseofPersonalSpace: "Testing, Testing 1, 2, 3" has Twilight Sparkle qualify for this trope along with Rainbow Dash. There's shots where they are right in each other's faces. Especially Twilight when she's trying to get Rainbow Dash to study.

** In the episode "What About Discord?" Twilight becomes jealous when all her friends had fun with Discord over the weekend she spent indoors re-shelving her library and all the inside jokes she doesn't understand. She eventually thinks Discord put her friends under a spell and when she lets this thought out her friends are offended that she would think that of Discord and of them until she breaks down that she is jealous. [[spoiler:Somewhat subverted as it turns out Discord didn't invite Twilight on-purpose to, as he claims, teach her a lesson it is okay to feel jealous as long as you let it out. Though no-one else is happy he did this to her on purpose and that he took joy of rubbing his fun in her face.

* AmbiguousDisorder: A few of her personality quirks, such as her lack of social skills, her obsessive desire to [[ObsessedAreTheListmakers structure her life into cohesive patterns]], and the meltdowns she can go through when said patterns are broken, could hint towards her being on the spectrum.

** In the first season, Twilight was orderly and no-nonsense, but to a fairly lucid degree, a lot of it owed to [[FishOutOfWater her inexperience with social life]]. By the start of the second season her meticulous habits are exaggerated to cartoony measures, with a lot of gags based on her SuperOCD neuroses. Inverted in other aspects, she has become far less [[GrumpyBear acerbic]] and more outgoing and friendly, for example.

* CavalierCompetitor: Twilight Sparkle pulls this one off in the episode "Fall Weather Friends." During the big Running of the Leaves race, Applejack and Rainbow Dash develop an intense rivalry and take the race very seriously. Twilight, a first-timer who is quite [[{{nerd}} non-athletic]], is seen just strolling along throughout the race, admiring the autumn leaves with a peaceful expression on her face. In the end, Twilight comes in fifth, which isn't a great showing, but her friends come in dead last because they tired themselves out too quickly (on top of being distracted [[DickDastardlyStopsToCheat trying to stop each other from winning]]), whereas Twilight paced herself and saved all her energy for the final stretch. [[NotSoAboveItAll Of course]], when a game comes along that she's actually passionate about, like in "A Trivial Pursuit" where she's desperate to keep her Trivia Trot winning streak going, the [[UnsportsmanlikeGloating results are not pretty]].

* BadassinDistress:

* Workaholic: Twilight Sparkle is so obsessed with her "friendship reports" that she drives herself crazy in one episode after being unable to find a problem she can solve to complete her report, and had no problem reading 12 books in a single weekend.

* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: A source ohf worry for Twilight. While she continues to help out against threats like Discord's plunderseeds in the premiere, Twilight herself observes that her role as princess doesn't really amount to much more than smiling and waving at official functions for most of Season 4. In the season finale she learns (or rather, she chooses) what her role as princess will be.

* DarkIsNotEvil: Her first name is Twilight, a time period of the night, she has a dark colored coat of fur, and she can use magic that's more or less BlackMagic, but she can also use magic to create light like most unicorns and she's a decent girl most of the time.

* ElementalPowers: She has several of them thanks to her status as a RedMage but most of them are non-weaponized spell versions.

* RenownedSelectiveMentor: She was just trying to get into the royal academy. One magic overload later, she's studying directly from Princess Celestia.

* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: A source of worry for Twilight. While she continues to help out against threats like Discord's plunderseeds in the premiere, Twilight herself observes that her role as princess doesn't really amount to much more than smiling and waving at official functions for most of Season 4. In the season finale she learns (or rather, she chooses) what her role as princess will be.

''[[(https://youtube.com/watch?v=tw-YvXSTjd4 Twilight throws the library in the air)]]''

-->'''Twilight:''' Just a test? Just a TEST?! Princess Celestia wants to give me some kind of exam and you're trying to tell me it's '''''...JUST A TEST?'''''\\

''[[[https://youtube.com/watch?v=tw-YvXSTjd4 Twilight throws the library in the air]]]''

-->'''Twilight:''' '''''...JUST A TEST?'''''\\
'''Spike:''' Uh... yes?\\

* CripplingOverspecialization: Being a unicorn bookworm from a town filled with unicorns, and thus used to Winter Wrap Up being done by magic, Twilight simply doesn't have any of the skills or abilities needed to physically tidy away the winter, making her a fish out of water in Ponyville's Earth pony-inspired, traditionally mundane version of the celebration. Thankfully, she has other, less physically-oriented skills which come in handy..

* CripplingOverspecialization: Being a unicorn bookworm from a town filled with unicorns, and thus used to Winter Wrap Up being done by magic, Twilight simply doesn't have any of the skills or abilities needed to physically tidy away the winter, making her a fish out of water in Ponyville's Earth pony-inspired, traditionally mundane version of the celebration. Thankfully, she has other, less physically-oriented skills which come in handy.
* CryCute: Even in her initial SugarAndIcePersonality, Twilight's vulnerable side could break hearts.

* AmbiguousDisorder: Twilight's obsessive nature, workaholic attitude, anxiety attacks, love for schedules and checklists as a way to structure her life, her poor social skills, and her tendency to not pay attention to what's going on around her when absorbed in something heavily imply something.

** Taken UpToEleven in "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E23TheHooffieldsAndMccolts The Hooffields and McColts]]" where she freezes two feuding families long enough for Fluttershy to [[ShamingTheMob talk them out of it]]. It's obviously putting a big strain on her, though.

* ProudScholarRace: Unicorns have a reputation as being intelligent magic-users, and Twilight takes it UpToEleven since she's the apprentice of Celestia.

* GreaterScopeParagon:
** She becomes this to the ''Equestria Girls'' series by ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsFriendshipGames Friendship Games]]'', being who TheHeroine Sunset Shimmer looks up to for guidance and assisting in magical maters beyond their abilities or knowledge. But by then she's so busy with her responsibilities as a princess in Equestria she only rarely can do more than stay in touch with them if even that much. Sunset's CharacterDevelopment in ''Friendship Games'' is learning to take care of problems herself rather than wait for Twilight to do so.
** In ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyANewGeneration A New Generation]]'', she is long deceased, but the new protagonist Sunny Starscout works to uphold her ideals and bring the magic of friendship back to Equestria.

* LegendaryInTheSequel: While all of the Mane Six are known as the "Guardians of Harmony" in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyANewGeneration'', Twilight's cutie mark is an ArcSymbol. It's on Sunny Starscout's book, multiple stain-glassed windows, and a symbol of the unity between the three tribes. Zipp Storm even mentions Twilight as a legend who united all of Equestria together, and Sunny's dad tells her Twilight's history as a bedtime story.

* SupernaturalIsPurple: She is mostly lavender and she is a powerful sorceress-in-training.

* FireForgedFriends: Twilight Sparkle didn't want anything to do with five [[OnlySaneWoman other quirky ponies]] who want to be friends with her, even the fact that they're all willing to accompany her through TheLostWoods. However, the ensuing adventure helps her connect with them and actually start regarding them as her TrueCompanions.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: When we first meet Twilight in "Friendship is Magic Pt 1", she's studying with her friend/assistant Spike, who's trying to get her to relax, and is shown to be uninterested in making friends and a bit insensitive at times.

* InferioritySuperiorityComplex: Twilight can be condescending and arrogant about her intelligence over the others at times, and frequently badgers others over tasks; however, it's revealed that she has brought herself up with [[SuperOCD very high standards]] to upkeep, and is absolutely terrified of disappointing peers or friends (and especially her superior, Princess Celestia). She had a ''mental breakdown'' when she was off schedule for a single task.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: She arguably began somewhat as this in the pilot and select early episodes, where she was noticeably more acerbic and condescending. While her pompousness does reappear at times, this is usually toned down in later episodes where [[InnocentlyInsensitive her rudeness is more accidental]] and she is far more outgoing and friendly.

* TheLeader: Leadership is one of Twilight's main secondary abilities, thanks to her organizational skills and level headedness. She serves as a Mastermind Type and Level-Headed Type leader for her group of friends, and even for the whole town of Ponyville at times.

** Upon her arrival in Ponyville, she politely thanks the guards that had been pulling her chariot, calling them "sirs". This is despite the fact that she is currently in a ''very'' sour mood over being sent to Ponyville in the first place. It serves as one of her {{Establishing Character Moment}}s, proving that while she may be a bit obsessive and thoughtless at times, she is a good pony at heart.

** She plays this towards Spike at times. Her occasionally dismissive and easily distracted behavior sometimes leaves Spike feeling unappreciated as her assistant. This is more InnocentlyInsensitive behavior than anything however (the one time she outright lost him because of it she was visibly guilt-ridden and frantic to get him back).

** From Twilight after she crosses the Despair Event Horizon in "The Return of Harmony".
** Another one from Twilight at the end of "BBBFF," lamenting what she sees as the growing distance between herself and her brother.

* SoProudofYou: Has been on the receiving end of this many times.

* SpannerintheWorks: Twilight Sparkle served as this in "A Canterlot Wedding", as Queen Chrysalis didn't count on Twilight having such a close bond with the real Cadance. Her cold, snobbish behavior towards Twilight caused her to become suspicious, and though Twilight is unable to give her friends solid evidence that something's wrong, Twilight's actions and Chrysalis' attempt to get rid of her allow the real Cadance to escape imprisonment, reunite with Shining Armor, and use their love to defeat the Changeling army.

* SquashedFlat: Happens to Twilight both times when she's hit by a door.

* StrongAsTheyNeedtoBe: Twilight Sparkle's telekinetic strength varies quite a bit. At one point, she lifts a two-story-house-sized bear and large water tower simultaneously, then later in the series, struggles to pull Fluttershy out of a box, even with the help of her friends.

** While in Seaquestria, Twilight tries to steal the Pearl of Transformation while using her unknowing friends as a distraction. However, because the Pearl is a treasured object, the throne room has a security system - which she sets off, resulting in her and her friends getting kicked out of Seaquestria.

* SurroundedbyIdiots: Twilight initially feels this way about Ponyville after she meets the ponies in charge of the celebration. She warms up to them later on.

* SympathyfortheDevil:

* TalkingTheMonsterToDeath: Twilight Sparkle in "The Cutie Re-Mark" has to do this to stop Starlight Glimmer: All attempts to initiate a Set Right What Once Went Wrong with brute force fails to make any progress, so Twilight has to show Starlight the dangers of invoking For Want of a Nail to get her to stand down.

* TeamDad: Sometimes she takes this role with Spike and the other ponies. While Applejack is the TeamMom, Twilight picks up the other responsibilities of the group.

* TheSmartGal: Twilight Sparkle takes this role frequently, though it's subverted more often than not due to her lack of real world experience. She's certainly capable of some Awesomeness by Analysis however, along with some hardcore exposition.

* VoiceOfTheLegion: Occasionally, Twilight will use the Royal Canterlot Voice towards drawing more attention to herself when necessary.
* WackyParentSeriousChild: When switching off from Straight Mare mode (like in "Lesson Zero" and "It's About Time"), Twilight becomes the wacky parent to Spike's serious child.

* Revision: The season 2 finale introduced Twilight's older brother, who had never been seen or mentioned before that point.

* OutOfCharacterMoment: In "School Daze", when her friends are all starting to freak out from the students getting difficult, Twilight Sparkle is the one to stay uncharacteristically calm, and to assure them despite this rough start, everything is going to be okay. Which is immediately lampshaded by Spike.
-->'''Spike:''' Who are you and what have you done with Twilight Sparkle?